Once upon a time there were a bunch of session musicians with too much time on their hands, having some fun between gigs, among them drummer Phil Collins during a period when Genesis' future was not so certain. Supposedly a purely non-serious improvisational unit, Brand X was born. Next thing you know they're putting out an album and going out on tour. 20 years and about half as many albums later, after who-can-keep-track of how many lineup changes, breakups, and reformations, the core of the band — guitarist John Goodsall and bassist Percy Jones — is still working together. The lineup this time out includes drummer Frank Katz, from the early-90s X-incarnation, keyboardist Franz Pusch, and Marc Wagnon (from Tunnels and Doctor Nerve) on MIDI vibes, the latter two interestingly enough never appearing on the same track together, leading one to believe that this may represent material from two different sessions separated by some lineup changes. Jones' playful fretless antics never sounded better, and Goodsall's smoking guitar leads can be heard throughout. Unfortunately, Katz' heavy handed snare pounding seems inescapable at times too, though on tracks like "Virus" he loosens up and delivers a superb performance. In all, a better album than X-Communication from '92, the return of keyboards and addition of midi-vibes gives the sound a liveliness and warmth it was missing, although it still doesn't top 70s classics like Livestock.

Latest news

2018-11-16The Seventeenth Dream of Dr Sardonicus Festival Tickets Now Available –
Fruits de Mer Records and their merry crew of psychedelic explorers are getting set to present the next The Seventeenth Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival. The dates are set for August 2-4, 2019 at The Cellar Bar in Cardigan, Wales. They've also announced that the legendary Groundhogs will top the bill. »
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2018-11-02Charles O'Meara (C.W. Vrtacek) RIP –
A true musical original has left us. Charles O'Meara, who recorded under the name C.W. Vrtacek, was a wild-card musical talent, ranging from complex progressive rock to introspective modern compositions, with stops at many places inbetween. »
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2018-10-17Eurock Documentary Seeks Funding –
We've been fans and fellow travelers with Archie Patterson and his Eurock project on the journey to discover great music. After many years of promoting and trying to spread the word,a new phase is beginning: a documentary film. Things like this don't just happen, and money does not magically appear to make it happen, so it's up to the fans to get it done. »
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2018-09-29Marty Balin RIP –
One of the architects of the 60s psychedelic sound of San Francisco has died at the age of 76. Marty Balin was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was one of the founders of Jefferson Airplane. After the split of the original Airplane, Balin went on to form the highly successful Jefferson Starship. »
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2018-09-25Help the Psychic Equalizer Avoid Extinction –
Last year we reviewed the debut album by Psychic Equalizer, a musical project of Hugo Selles. He's now working on the ambitious follow-up to that release, and is seeking funding from listeners around the world. »
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Previously in Exposé...

Drums & Tuba - Battles Olé –
Drums and Tuba has to be one of the oddest bands active these days in terms of their basic instrumentation, which would be, um, drums, tuba, trumpet, trombone, guitar and electronics. The core trio...
(2008) »
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